REVIVING THE PASIG FERRY SYSTEM

REVIVING THE PASIG FERRY SYSTEM

There was a time when the Pasig River was not just a symbol of neglect and pollution—it was also a forgotten transport route that once connected Manila’s communities and economies. For years, the Pasig River Ferry System was treated as a novelty, occasionally revived and repeatedly abandoned. But now, in 2025, it looks like the idea is finally making a real comeback—this time, with cleaner technology, better planning, and a broader vision for integration.

Reviving the Pasig Ferry System is no longer a pipe dream. A multi-agency push is underway, led by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) with support from MMDA, DENR, and local governments, to turn the river into a living, breathing transport corridor once again. With an ₱800 million annual budget proposed for dredging, terminal upgrades, and the deployment of new vessels, this is shaping up to be the most serious effort yet to bring life back to our historic waterway.

And now comes a major breakthrough: the launch of the M/B Dalaray, the first fully electric ferry boat built in the Philippines. Designed by Filipino scientists, engineers, and students from the University of the Philippines Diliman, this vessel represents a leap toward sustainability and technological independence. It runs on battery power—quiet, emission-free, and efficient. I would call it a battery-operated ferry, but it’s better if we could say it’s solar-assisted, since it can also recharge from solar panels.

This innovation reminds me of the Solar8 bus, once introduced by an Israeli company in the local market. It was genuinely powered by solar panels, supported by backup batteries. That design was clever because the batteries were charged by both a power source and the panels themselves. If we can apply the same hybrid thinking to our ferry systems—charging both from shore power and from solar energy—then we could have a truly sustainable mode of transport gliding over the Pasig River.

The M/B Dalaray is more than a vessel; it’s a statement. It signals that Filipinos can build our own clean, modern boats—without diesel, without imported technology, and without excuses.

But reviving the ferry system is not just about boats. The real challenge is integration. In successful cities around the world—Singapore, London, Hong Kong, Bangkok—the ferry is not treated as a side project. It is part of a seamless, intermodal transport system, where buses, trains, and ferries share one ticketing platform, one schedule, and one brand identity. That’s what makes them efficient, convenient, and profitable.

Why can’t we do the same? Imagine if you could ride the LRT from Cubao, transfer to a ferry at Guadalupe, and continue your trip to Intramuros—all with one ticket and one app. That’s the future we should be aiming for. Integration is not rocket science—it is simply a matter of planning, coordination, and political will.

Fortunately, the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli (PBBM) Project—now in its fourth phase—is also addressing this by combining transport with culture and commerce. Along the stretch from the Manila Central Post Office to Arroceros Forest Park, new walkways, bike lanes, and commercial spaces are being developed. If done right, this could transform the riverbanks into vibrant civic spaces—similar to how Seoul rehabilitated the Cheonggyecheon Stream, turning a polluted canal into an ecological and tourist landmark.

What I would like to see next is an expansion of the ferry routes beyond the Pasig River. Why not include Laguna Lake and Manila Bay, with connections to Batangas, Cavite, and Bataan? We could develop a Greater Manila Waterway Network, a web of eco-friendly ferries connecting urban centers, ports, and eco-villages. Such a system would reduce traffic, boost tourism, and strengthen our disaster resilience—since ferries could double as emergency transport during floods or earthquakes.

At the barangay level, local communities can take part through waterway guardianship programs—keeping the rivers clean, maintaining docking hubs, and operating cooperative-run ferries. Imagine barangays having their own ferry terminals, maintained by local cooperatives that also benefit from tourism and commerce. Sustainability would no longer be an abstract policy; it would be a source of livelihood and local pride.

For this revival to succeed, however, we must keep one thing in mind: clean transport requires a clean river. The MMDA–DENR accord signed this year aims to ensure environmental safeguards and coordinated development. But real cleanup will depend on communities, waste management systems, and public discipline. Ferries cannot thrive on a dirty river. Pasig River must live again—literally and symbolically.

The launch of the M/B Dalaray is a small step, but it could mark a turning point. It is proof that we can blend Filipino ingenuity, environmental responsibility, and transport innovation into one beautiful project.

If we succeed in reviving the Pasig Ferry System—clean, efficient, and integrated—it will not just be a triumph of engineering. It will be a restoration of our relationship with the river, a reminder that progress does not always come from concrete and cars, but from rediscovering the waterways that once sustained us.

Who knows? One day, we might once again see the Pasig River bustling with life—not just as a ferry route, but as a symbol of a nation finally learning to move forward without leaving its past behind.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres

iseneres@yahoo.com, senseneres.blogspot.com 03-18-2026